After-School Coding Teacher —Menlo Park, Palo Alto (Grades 1–8, Block Coding to Python & AI)

Not a one-tool coding class. A real progression: block coding → HTML → Python → building with AI (and questioning what AI says).

Starfire Education runs in-person after-school enrichment at top-ranked K–8 schools across the Peninsula. Small groups (3–12 kids), the same teacher every week, real projects, and every session ends with children presenting their work. We are hiring subject-matter experts for our winter session — people who actually practice the craft they teach. An excellent fit for industry professionals, graduate students, and experienced or retired teachers.

Who you are

• You're a software engineer, CS student, bootcamp grad or instructor, or STEM teacher who actually codes
• You can meet a 2nd grader in Scratch and a 7th grader in Python in the same room
• You believe a bug is information, not failure — and you can teach kids to hunt them

What you'll do

• Teach a progression curriculum across block coding, HTML, Python, and AI prompting/building, tiered by grade band
• Run sessions where kids demo working code to a live audience and explain what broke and how they fixed it
• Include AI literacy: students test AI outputs against evidence instead of trusting them
• Manage devices and materials on site; contribute improvements to the coding curriculum — paid and credited when adopted

Pay (transparent, like always)

$55–$70 per hour depending on subject expertise and teaching experience. Every hour is broken down so you know what you're paid for:

• Class time: $28–$35
• Prep, documentation & curriculum contribution: $17–$22
• Commute component: $10–$13

Over and above the hourly rate:

• Commute allowance of $8–$12/class for longer drives or bridge crossings
• Up to $25 reimbursed for background check / TB test (after completion of session)
• $100 on completing the 2-week probation
• Session completion bonus: $200 per class for 100% on-time attendance, favorable reviews, end-of-session student progress reports submitted, and no student drops due to teacher performance
• Curriculum credit: teachers whose lesson ideas are adopted into the Starfire curriculum are paid a per-lesson development fee and credited by name

How this works

• Classes meet once a week on weekdays, starting between 1:00–3:10 pm, running 60–90 minutes, on campus at top-ranked K–8 schools
• One class per day (school schedules make more impossible — we're honest about that); build up to 3–5 classes/week across nearby schools if you want more hours
• Sessions run 8–15 weeks with the school calendar; winter session begins early January 2027
• Groups of 3–12 students, same teacher every week — our zero-cancellation promise to schools depends on your reliability, and we pay for it

Training & curriculum — done together, at Starfire

• Onboarding support: 2 half-day training workshops at Starfire before the session starts
• A complete, structured curriculum is provided — you'll never walk in without a plan
• You're expected to contribute back: session feedback, lesson improvements, and your own ideas. Our curriculum is built with teachers, not handed down to them
• Paid observation of one ongoing class before you start; ongoing coaching and a community of fellow teachers

Non-negotiables

• Local to the Bay Area (no relocation, no remote)
• 1+ years working with children ages 5–14, and genuine warmth for that age group
• Fluent English, excellent communication with kids AND parents
• LiveScan background check, TB clearance, mandated reporter training before first class (we reimburse up to $25)
• Punctuality is sacred: schools and parents rely on us because our classes always happen

Job type: Part-time · Pay: $55–$70/hour · Schedule: after school, weekdays · Location: Palo Alto, Menlo Park Schools (on-campus) · Benefits: paid training, flexible schedule, professional development, referral programme, curriculum development fees.

Tell us what you've made, built, written, or shipped — we'd love to hear it.

Pay: $55.00 - $70.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 2.0 per week

Work Location: In person